Concord Presbyterian Church Celebrates Its 150th Anniversary—Around 1,000 Persons in Attendance—Historic Church Has Grown a Minister Every Six Years for 150 Years Existence.
The Concord (Iredell) Presbyterian church, Loray, organized in 1775 with Dr. James Hall, noted educator, soldier, scholar and preacher as its first pastor, celebrated its 150th anniversary.
The address of Hon. W.F. Stevenson of Cheraw, S.C., Congressman from the fifth South Carolina district, was an outstanding feature, as was also a sketch of the history of the church by Rev. T.M. Stevenson. The present pastor, Rev. S.L. Cahtey, president, and the morning program began at 10:30 o’clock. Approximately 1,000 people—members of the congregation and friends from far and near—were in attendance. A picnic dinner was served at noon. The afternoon was given over to reminiscences by two former pastors, Revs. W.C. Brown of Statesville and E.D. Brown of China Grove. Rev. P.P. Winn and Rev. C.M. Tidball, earlier pastors of the church, were unable to be present.
The morning service opened with the pastor’s invocation, followed by the address of welcome by Mr. W.O. Morrison, present member of the Concord church, who expressed pride in the past history of the institution and a faith in its future. Greetings were extended by Mr. R.R. Clark for the First Presbyterian Church, Statesville, and by representatives of the Shiloh, Clio, New Salem and Stony Point churches.
Bethany Presbyterian church was organized also 150 years ago and is described as a “twin sister” of the Concord church. “Daughters” of Concord are Shiloh, Clio and Salem, and “granddaughters” Taylorsville and Stony Point. The mother church is the First church, Statesville.
The first congregation of the Concord Presbyterian church met for worship in a log structure at the rear of the present building. The old communion cup, used at that time, is still preserved as a valued relic.
The historical sketch of the church, written about 16 years ago by Dr. S.W. Stevenson of Mooresville and read today in published form by Rev. T.M. Stevenson is an interesting review of the people’s devotion to the cause of their God and loyalty to the faith of their fathers. A century and a half past—and the rural congregation carries on in the forward march of Christianity!
Concord church is spoken of as “the center of as pure religion and sound morals as are to be found anywhere.” A long list of illustrious sons and daughters of the little church includes physicians, lawyers, statesmen, soldiers and ministers. It is said that this church can boast a record probably unsurpassed anywhere, that of giving to the Christian world an average of one minister for ever six years of her life.
Rev. S.L. Cathey, present beloved pastor, has served the Concord church since 1917. The membership is now 373.
Southern Presbyterianism
Hon. W.F. Stevenson presented as a distinguished son of the Concord Presbyterian church, “One who has attained a marked degree of success,” spoke interestingly at this time of the principal sources of Presbyterianism of the Southern General Assembly, discussing the “kind of stuff” of which the early defenders of the Presbyterian faith were made and the responsibility attaching t such a heritage as is the Presbyterian church’s today.
The Congressman outlined as three principal sources of Presbyterianism the Huguenots from France, the Dutch, and the Scotch from Ireland. The Huguenot movement was largely local, he said; the Dutch settled for the most part in New York and other northern states. It was the Scotch who came here to trade who were really the progenitors of Presbyterianism in this country.
Born of sturdy stock and strengthened by persecution and trials, the Scotch-Irish have evern been a dominant force in the religious life of a nation which, according to Congressman Stevenson, has a form of government founded on the genius of John Calvin.
The Presbyterian form of church government, which recognizes God and not the Pope as the church head, which places the ministry on equality and which grants the right of the church to select its preacher and elect its officers—this was conceived by Calvin at Geneva, established by John Knox in Scotland and then transferred to north Ireland from whence came the fathers of Southern Presbyterianism in the United States.
Persecution by the King of England, continuing after many of the Scotch had established themselves in Ireland. Worshipping under the Presbyterian form of government, resulted in the exodus from Ireland to America between the years 1728 and 1750 of 252,000 Scotch-Irish. In 1750, declared the speaker, “the stream started through the valley of Virginia and across North and South Carolina, and that is where we got the Presbyterianism that amounted to anything.”
In view of the persecution which these Scotch and Irish had been subjected to before their departure from their native land, was it any wonder asked the Congressman, that when England sought to reach the arm of imperialism across the sea, Presbyterians from Maine to Florida for the most part were on the side of the independence of the United States?
“Presbyterians knew their Bible. They remembered Christ’s doctrine that the ruler should be servant of all and not dictator and tyrant.”
Springing from such spiritual ancestry, it is the high privilege and responsibility of Presbyterians today to continue to translate, as did their fathers, the Word and Christian principles into the life of church and government.
Forty years ago, according to his statement, Congressman Stevenson severed his connection with the Concord church at Loray. He has been, however, a frequent visitor since that time. He is a scholarly speaker.
No comments:
Post a Comment